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By LITO RULONA, Correspondent and
CONG B. CORRALES, Associate Editor

Members of the Padayon Pilipino have failed to override the veto message of City Mayor Oscar Moreno during the last session of the 17th City Council yesterday at Sangguniang Panglungsod session hall.

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Vice Mayor Cesar Ian Acenas said there is no need to override the veto message considering that Mayor Moreno signed the executive budget and only raised particular issues regarding the appropriation ordinance.

If they needed to override Moreno’s veto, Acenas said, they could still muster at least 12 votes since they “still have the number.”

Yesterday’s session, however, was focused on the outgoing speeches of Acenas and eight other outgoing members of the city council.

Ihatag na lang nato kini nga privilege to the next members of the city council. Amo lang nga gikatingad-an kay gipermahan sa mayor ang general appropriations unlike before the time that we initially approved the 2016 Executive Budget,” said Acenas.

Moreno in his 21-page veto letter said, the substantial reduction of the annual budget since 2014 has a singular motive of paralyzing his function. For 2016, Moreno proposed P4.8 billion. The City Council, however, did not act on it until two weeks ago, and after reducing it by 49 percent to P2.46 billion.

City Councilor Zaldy Ocon for his part said that the members of the Padayon Pilipino failed to discuss in overriding the veto power of the local chief executive because they knew that it was already a hopeless effort on their part.

“Considered approved na siguro para sa ila kay wala naman pud sila’y mahimo because the next 18th members of the city council will surely favor the administration of Moreno. Pwede man permi maka-file for supplemental budget and surely approved na pirmi,” he said.

“Social services baya og para sa katawhan ang ilang kontra. Nakasabot na sila,” Ocon said.

Among the provisions Moreno questioned was the “zero” appropriation for PhilHealth Indigency Program.

Moreno highlighted in his veto message the act of the City Council to reduce to zero the proposed P240 million appropriation for the PhilHealth Indigency Program. He described the reduction as “huge, inexplicable, arbitrary and ill-motivated.” He added that the act violates no less than Section 11 of the Constitution that provides that “The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development and other social services available to all the people at affordable cost…”and Section 15 which provides that

“The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people…”

The zero budget for the PhilHealth Indigency Program which could affect the renewal of “the already-existing 50,000 beneficiaries,”including those who are already members during the previous administration violates the National Health Insurance Act which provides, among others “That the program shall be compulsory in all provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide, notwithstanding the existence of LGU-based health insurance programs…”

Majority Floor Leader Ramon Tabor said no need for them to override because Moreno signed the ordinance.

“He signed og igo lamang kadto siya gapahungaw sa iyang gibati,” Tabor posited.

Tabor said P2.46 Billion Budget Ordinance is valid and they already instructed the secretariat to submit the approved budget to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for review and then implementation.

To pave way for the “immediate implementation and to enable this administration to move forward and welcome the next set of the City Council on a bright note,” Moreno said his veto does not make a direct veto on any line item.

City Budget Officer lawyer Percy Salazar said the P2.46B figure stands, but subsequent supplemental budgets will have to be filed to restore deleted and reduced items.

“Only the income and few provisions were being vetoed and Moreno can re-submit this during the next members of the city council,” Tabor said.

Among the provisions in 2016 Appropriations Ordinance Moreno wants struck out are on the give an option for the vice mayor to authorize disbursement of budget; submission to the City Council for approval Program of Works of projects; prohibition of budget augmentation from savings without City Council approval; City Council approval of disaster Quick Response Fund; for supplemental budgets to give priority funding to projects considered by the City Council as a priority.

City Councilor Teodulfo Lao said he supports the veto message of Moreno to give the benefit that he could implement projects that he wanted.

Tan-awon nato kung kaya ba gyud sa Mayor ang iyang gusto,” he said.

The veto of the mayor however may not have impact on the approved P2.46 B appropriation, but certain provisions which Moreno considers as illegal, beyond the powers of the City Council; (ultra vires) and inappropriate, grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction and encroachment of power.

Emano calls for unity

OATH-TAKING. Provincial board members took their oath during the flagaising ceremony at the Capitol grounds yesterday. (From Left) Board member-elect Gerardo Sabal, Mercy Grace Aca-in, Mario Emano, Nancy Madjos, and Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano who officiated the oath-taking rites. Photo by Nitz Arancon

 

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